Archive for September, 2011

All about Gas Lines

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Jeff Pindak, is the owner of Plumbing Solution LLC, in Columbia SC. Plumbing Solution LLC was started with an idea of bringing quality workmanship and amazing customer service to the plumbing trade in SC. Plumbing Solutions specialize in Gas Line Installation in Columbia & Piping Repair in Columbia.

The gas company is responsible for maintaining the gas lines from their stations to the meter outside one’s house. After the meter the responsibility for the gas lines fall on the owner of the house. The owner or tenant will be held responsible for any leakage or damage that happens on their side of the meter. Even if the meter is not right next to the house the owner is responsible for maintaining the gas line from the meter to their house. That is if the meter is at the curb the owner is responsible for the gas line on their side of the meter.

Maintaining the gas line is very important if one wants to avoid possible accidents. One should have their gas line regularly checked for leakage and for possible unsafe conditions. If the gas pipe line happens to be made of steel or other metals, have them regularly checked for corrosion. If such unsafe conditions are detected one must take immediate steps to correct them. One should take the assistance of a licensed and well qualified professional like a heating or plumbing contractor to both inspect as well as repair broken or damaged gas lines.

There are a few steps that one should take if one suspects that there is a gas leak.

The first step one should do is to evacuate the area, dont on or off any electrical equipment as the spark can cause either an explosion or a fire.
The next step is to call either 911 or the safety number given by ones gas company. Remember one should call these numbers from a safe location like ones neighbors house or building. Never try to fix or repair a gas leak by oneself.

In case there is a gas leak from plastic pipe it can create enough static electricity to ignite the gas.
Thus if one

  • Regularly checks their gas lines for unsafe conditions like corrosions and possible leaks
  • Knows what to do in case of a suspected leak.

One can save not only their lives but also the lives of the loved ones and neighbours.

Best Ways To Clean Your Home Windows

Monday, September 19th, 2011

As easy as it may sound, cleaning windows can be a tedious task, especially if you have a large house with so many windows. Cleaning them once a week is also not a good option since in after a day or two, you’ll start seeing smudges and dirt all over them. Imagine if you have so many kids how many fingerprints and nose prints do you think you will see? It is time to learn the best techniques on how to clean your home windows. 

1. Use a professional brass or a stainless steel squeegee that you can get this from your local janitorial supply store.

2. Try using a window cleaning solution that has vinegar, ammonia or liquid dishwashing detergent ingredients. Ammonia is helpful in cutting heavy grease while vinegar can remove hard water spots.

3. Don’t use too much soap or chemical solutions on your windows as doing so may cause streaks and even leave residue.

4. Use a damp cloth in wiping very dirty windows. 

5. Avoid rubbing dirt on the glass because it will cause scratches on your window.

6. You can use a vacuum cleaners attachment in getting rid of dirt from your window.

7. Lightly wet your window using a cloth or clean sponge.

8. Don’t clean your windows under direct sunlight as it can make it dry up too fast and then leave streaks.

9. Wash the exterior windows first using a hose or clean water in removing grime and grease.

10. Make sure you change, wash and then rinse waters often.

11. To remove dust, vacuum the screens.

12. When washing windows, do it side-to-side inside and up-to-down outside. 

13. For stained or textured glass windows, don’t use squeegees; they don’t work on these types of glass. 

14. Scrub warm water on the screens then rinse them with clean water. Air dry them afterwards.

15. Hard paper towels or old cotton cloths are also great to use for cleaning windows. Micro-fiber cloths are also good but don’t use fabric softeners on them because this can reduce their absorbency features.

The writer operates a San Diego Residential Painting services company. They also undertake San Diego Window Treatment and San Diego Cabinet Services.

DIY Plumbing Tips: How to Fix a Dripping Faucet Caused by an Eroded Handle O-ring

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

This is a guest post by Doc Thompson, from Plumber in Columbus, He specializes in  Broken Sink Repair Columbus and Leaking Faucet Repair Columbus

Fixing a leaky faucet is one of the easiest DIY plumbing jobs everand probably the most common. This is significant because the EPA estimates that several thousand gallons of water are lost each year in the average home just due to leaky plumbing. If your faucet is constantly dripping, you should repair it as soon as possible to avoid losing money via your water bill.

One of the most common causes of faucet leaks is a deteriorated O-ring in the faucets handle. This is also called the packing in the handle. The first thing to do is to shut off the water supply for the faucet on which you are about to perform a repair. This is to prevent further water loss as well as avoid a messy job once you get started. Once the water supply has been shut off, you may go on to remove the screw of the faucets handle. Once this is loosened, you should be able to remove the faucet handle easily.

It should now be possible for you to see the packing nut. The packing nut may require you to take a wrench to it for removal, but be careful: some packing nutsin fact, quite a lot of them nowadaysare made out of plastic. You shall need to be very gentle with your wrench to avoid damaging the nut. Alternatively, you may just insert a protective layer between the wrench and the nut, such as a piece of fabric to protect the plastic item.

The valve stem shall now be easily accessible. The valve stem is a longish, narrow piece that resides directly under the nut and which holds the O-ring in the assembly. Take note that a valve stem should be easier to remove than the nut that preceded it. You do not need to use a wrench to remove this, as it is possible to simply twist it (carefully, as always) out of the faucet. If you end up having trouble with it, the wrench should still not come into play. Merely keep trying to turn it: it should eventually come out quite smoothly.

Now that you have this part, it is necessary for you to take a little road trip. Well, not exactly a road trip: you only need to make it to the nearest hardware shop in the area. You are now supposed to look for an O-ring to replace the old one (which you are carrying). If you have trouble looking for the exact items, you may always ask for help with the shopkeeper and show him or her the items you have brought with you. Then, all that is left is to go home, reassemble the faucet handle pieces, and test your new non-leaky faucet.

How to Choose Bathroom Lighting

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

This is a guest post by Dennis Andrews from bay area plumber  He specializes in clogged toilet bay area, and  shower Pan repair Pacifica

Bathroom lighting is often the cheapest investment one can make when beautifying ones water closetand yet, it happens to be an investment that affects everything. A beautifully designed but badly lit bathroom is often seen as a badly designed bathroom. This ties in with one of the fundamental principles of the stage and screen: lighting is everything. So when you choose your bathroom lighting, be sure to expend some time and thought in the processit certainly deserves it.

The first tip for choosing bathroom lighting is to for lighting that reduces glare. Glare is a serious problem in most homes nowadays and contributes to early deterioration of vision. Glaring lights in a bathroom also make the whole area look harsh, clinical, and generally unwelcoming. This does not mean using only dim lighting assemblies, of course. You still need adequate light in your water closet: you just want it layered on softly. This means building it gradually from all angles, not just shooting a spotlight glare from the ceiling.
Avoid recessed lighting. If you must use recessed lighting, supplement it with other lights, because recessed lighting has a tendency to create a light-and-dark effect or shadow effect on the face. This can create problems each time you go the mirror to do something such as shaving or even just brushing your teeth. Illuminate the bathroom evenly and remember that you can never have too much lightyou can just install dimming switches and light regulators afterwards if you are concerned that it may be too bright in the area with the number of bulbs you have set in.

Look for areas that need a lot of light. For example, you need a separate light for the shower and the vanity, in order to ensure that both areas get the light they deserve. The mirror is typically the most brightly lit area, and understandably so. Just be sure to get lighting for it that does not cast shadows over some aspects of your face. Some people go for the backstage-style lighting that has bulbs lined up on both sides of the mirror: this is not a bad idea. You should also think about adding an overhead lamp for the toiletin case you do a lot of reading on it.

Finally do not forget to talk to a building inspector to ensure that the fixtures you have selected are approved for use in the bathroom. There are certain restrictions that might be applicable to your area and you need to take note of them before you start opening your wallet and buying the items you have on your shopping list. Once all of this is done, you can finally get around to lighting your bathroom the way you want to.

How To Choose A Painting Contractor?

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

The writer, Robert Miller is a Painting Expert from San Diego, CA. Check out his San Diego Painting services company. He also specializes in San Diego Moulding and San Diego Finishing

Choosing a painting contractor is not always going to be an easy task. There are plenty of things you must consider before hiring one.

The first thing you should do when contacting a painting contractor is to get a quote about the prices. Make sure you get a quote from at least three to five contractors. Ask them if the prices will remain the same after they finish the job. You should get the bottom line price. Ask them to what extent the prices will increase after the job. This will prevent unnecessary surprises later on.

You should also make sure that they are properly insured and bonded. Ask if they specialize in residential painting, commercial painting or both? There is a difference and you cant leave the painting of your home in the wrong hands.

You should determine how much work is needed, be it interior painting or exterior painting. This should include surface preparation, priming as well as the finishing coat. For the priming you should know what type of primer and which brand they will use. As for the finishing coat you should have an idea as to which type of paint is used and name of the brand. Also ask how many coats they will apply.

When they do exterior painting will they make sure that the plants are not affected and when they do interior painting what will they do to see that the furniture is moved or protected from the paint.

You should ask them questions like how quickly they can start, how soon they can finish the job, how many painters will they allot for the job and what will they do if the job is not completed on time. Make sure that they use one set of painters throughout the job. This will ensure that there is uniformity in the painting as each person has their own style.

What kind of warranty do they provide? How long the warranty will last and what kind of failures does it cover? You should also ask them what they will do if there happens to be a paint failure.

You should also ask them for at least five references that is their previous customers. Contact these customers and get their recommendations.

Check if the painting contractor is both courteous and business-like. Are they punctual and keep their appointments? How fast do they return your calls? Do they have the required experience and are they quality oriented? Are they genuinely interested in doing business with you?

Once you have got satisfactory answers to these questions you can rest assured that you have found the right contractor for the job.